Musical game



May 28, 1957 H. H. BLOCK MUSICAL GAME Filed Nov. 15, 1955 United States Patent MUSICAL GAME Herman H. Block, Chicago, Ill. Application November 13, 1953, Serial No. 391,871

1 Claim. (Cl. 84470) This invention relates to a musical game.

An object of this invention is to provide a game that can be played by two players and that is useful in developing the ability to recognize musical sounds such as pure tones, chords and the like.

One of the features of this invention is the provision of a musical game comprising a pair of musical instruments capable of producing musical sounds when each instrument is actuated by a player, and means for preventing each player from observing visually the musical character of the sound produced by the other player in order that the first player can identify the sound only audibly.

A more specific feature of the invention is to provide a musical game comprising a base, a pair of musical instruments mounted on the base each capable of producing musical sounds when actuated by a player, a visual barrier mounted on the base between the instruments and means on the barrier for recording a relative score indicating the ability of each player to detect audibly a musical sound produced by the other players.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a musical game embodying the invention with the barrier being disassembled to illustrate the construction of the game.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the game of Figure 1 with the barrier in place and on a reduced scale.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the game comprises a base 10, including one pair of converging support members 11, a second pair of converging support members 12, located side by side and extending longitudinally, and a pair of end transverse support members 13 with one located at each end of the base 10.

Each longitudinal support member 11 and 12 is provided on its upper surface with a strip of wool felt 14 or other resilient supporting material. Resting on each pair of felt strips 14 are a series of metal strips 15, each capable of giving off a tone of the musical scale when struck by a hammer 16. Thus, each series of strips 15 act as the tone producing portions of a xylophone.

Each metal strip 15 is loosely mounted on a pair of pins 16 extending through the strip and into the support member 11.

In order to prevent each player from observing visually the particular tone struck by the other player, a barrier 17 is provided adapted to be arranged between the two xylophones in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. The barrier is provided with corner notched portions 17a which are adapted to be releasably engaged with slots 13a in the upper surface of the transverse support members 13 and located between the pair of Xylophones. This barrier is preferably marked as indicated at 18 on either side thereof to indicate the musical character of a corresponding metal strip 15. Thus, as is shown in Figure 1, these markings are letters identifying the corresponding tone that may be produced by striking each metal strip.

As a part of the game of this invention there is also preferably provided means for recording a relative score indicating the ability of each player to detect audibly a musical sound produced by the other player. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this score recording means comprises a series of score-indicating indicia 19 arranged on both sides of the barrier 17 adjacent to the top thereof and a movable marker 20 adapted to straddle the top of the barrier 17 with a pair of depending points 20a on either side of the barrier arranged to cooperate with a marking 19 to indicate the relative score.

When the game is being played the barrier 17 is first fitted within the grooves 13a so that one player cannot observe what note is struck by the other player. The marker 20 is then moved to the zero point as shown in Figure l. The two players then take turns striking any desired metal strip 15 to produce a definite tone. The other player thereupon attempts to identify the tone audibly and tells the other player what he thinks is the tone that has been struck. If he is correct, the marker 20 is moved one space to indicate an increasing score in his favor. If the player is not correct, the mark is moved one space in the opposite direction. The player who attempted to identify the sound then takes his turn and strikes one of the metal strips 15 and the first player then attempts to identify the tone merely by listening to it. Whether he is successful or whether he fails is indicated by moving the marker 20 in the correct direction. At the end of a given time the winner is determined by the position of the marker 20.

Although the game has been shown as used with a pair of simple xylophones operated in the customary way by striking metal strips with a hammer, it is apparent that more complex devices may be used, especially as the skill of the player increases. Thus, the musical instruments may be capable of giving ofi any type of tone of any type of musical scale and may even be arranged to strike chords or other complex musical sounds.

One of the chief advantages of the game of this invention is that it not only provides a contest, as is true with ordinary games, but it also develops musical skill in teaching the player to identify musical sounds. It also teaches him the relative positions of the notes in the scale and makes him familiar with their character.

Having described my invention as related to the e bodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A musical game, comprising: a base; a pair of spaced Xylophones mounted on said base; a barrier between said xylophones for preventing a player of one Xylophone from observing the other Xylophone; and means on said barrier for indicating a relative score.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 23 3,3 l 8 2,293,298 MacDonald Aug. 18, 1942 

